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Pretty yellow Arnica flowers are something you’ll see throughout K-Country. But identifying which Arnica you’re looking at can take some serious study!
SOOOO MANY Arnica!
The daisy-like flowers of the genus, Arnica, are a dead giveaway that it’s a member of the huge and very diverse aster family (Asteraceae). The genus is mainly montane (that is, of mountain ecosystems) with 29 species defined in total, according to current science. Of those, 26 are found in North America and the other 3 species are in Europe and Asia. Western North America is the center for species diversity. And here’s where it gets complicated… Alberta alone has 15 species of Arnica, all of which may be found within Kananaskis!
Arnica species have showy yellow (sometimes orangey) flowers. The plants are further identified by having opposite leaves, that is, the leaves are arranged in pairs, one leaf opposite the other. Most species have multiple pairs of opposite leaves on the flowering stems. As the flowers fade, dandelion-like seed heads form. When ready, the plumed seeds detach and are distributed around by the wind. Arnica species are perennials and form colonies by spreading from their rhizomatous roots.
The more common ones
One of the most common Arnica species in Kananaskis, and widespread through Alberta, is Heart-leaved Arnica (Arnica cordifolia, pictured at right). It’s found throughout forested areas from the lowlands to the subalpine. The main distinguishing feature is the broad basal leaves with prominently heart-shaped (“cordate”) bases. The basal leaves are on long leaf stalks and stem leaves are also stalked, except for the uppermost, smallest pair of leaves which is stalkless.
Another of the most commonly-seen Arnica species in Kananaskis is Broad-leaved Arnica (Arnica latifolia). It’s less widespread, being found from moist conifer forests in the mountains up to the subalpine meadows. It’s also characterized by broad basal leaves but they are without heart-shaped bases. The basal leaves are on stalks but the pairs of leaves on the flowering stems are all stalkless – another way in which it is differentiated from Heart-leaved Arnica. These two plants are often confused but can be distinguished by paying attention to the details mentioned.
The various species bloom almost all the way through summer; we have seen them in bloom as early as May. We found very late blooming, Narrow-Leafed Arnica, Arnica longifolia, in flower at Black Prince and Chester Lake area in late September, pictured at right.
Arnica are everywhere!
In addition to the Arnica species mentioned above, other species can be found through most parts of Kananaskis.
Some of the lower elevation grassy meadows in Kananaskis will host Shining Arnica (Arnica gracilis) and Twin Arnica (Arnica sororia). Both of these are broadly distributed across the southern half of Alberta where remnants of native grassland still exist.
Leafy Arnica, Arnica chamissonis, can be found in particularly moist-to-wet areas, such as around beaver dams. As the common name suggests, it has a high count of stem leaf pairs and also bears multiple flower heads.
If your adventures take you into the high elevation areas of Kananaskis, you may come across some of the many other Arnica species. These are particularly adapted to life in the harsh conditions of the alpine-subalpine. One example is the Alpine Arnica, Arnica Angustifolia ssp tomentosa pictured at right.
A plant with traditional uses
While Arnica can be poisonous if ingested, several North American Indigenous peoples used Arnica as a poultice for swelling and bruises. Several companies make Arnica gels and creams for relief of bruises and inflammation, but they all use one of the Arnica species found in Europe. We prefer to enjoy our various Arnica species in the wild!
See more of the beautiful flowers of K-Country here!
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